Wankie fails to stop the Bosso juggernaut

Highlanders 0 (1) - 0 Hwange
HWANGE failed to stop the Highlanders juggernaut when the two teams met in a closely fought Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium.

Chipangano though made their own piece of history by becoming the first team in the league this season to hold Highlanders to a nill all draw at Barbourfields Stadium but their world collapsed in the 78th minute though a beautiful header by super substitute Beavan Chikaka who had come on for Graham Ncube four minutes earlier.

Highlanders, known for their hunger for goals, controlled proceedings, forcing Hwange to play in their own half but the final touch was always their biggest undoing.

Bosso could have opened the floodgates in the 21st minute when Graham brilliantly set up Simon Munawa who however shot weakly at a drawn out Sibanda. Munawa had a rather below par performance by his standards and was to be substituted in the 66th minute for young Arnold Ndiweni.

Munawa could have put Bosso ahead again in the 34th minute but his first time screamer missed the target by inches with the Highlanders fans already up in their feet.

The first half was to end with the crowd experiencing no goals for the first time this season.

With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Kelvin Kaindu's magic touch came into the fore, Graham was pulled out for Chikaka and four minutes after, a fast improving Bruce Kangwa flighted a cross from the left flank and up stepped Chikaka with a brilliant flashing header that gave Sibanda no chance and the stadium erupted, so did the tension on the field of play.

As Highlanders were charging in search of another goal, another substitute Masimba Mambare was hit by Daniel Kamunenga in an off the ball incident and the out of sorts referee, Mlindeli Ndebele, who for the better part of the match was seeing play from a different world from the rest of the crowd, red carded an innocent, Aaron Katebe.

The decision was correct yes but it was given to the wrong man. As the Zambian was walking out, he too showed a total lack of discipline, something Hwange players are not known for, by pocking assistant referee, Salani Ncube and his coach Chilumba rushed in to warn him and again Ndebele came charging and for reasons still known to him, gave Chilumba his marching orders as well.

Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, B Tshuma, I Mapuranga, E Mudzingwa, M Maphosa, B Kangwa, M Ncube, S Munawa (A Ndiweni 66th min), P Moyo, H Masuku (M Mambare 57th min), G Ncube (B Chikaka 74th min)
Unused subs: M Diya, Knox Mutizwa, H Moyo
Wankie: T Sibanda, E Chipeta, D Boriwondo, O Mpofu (O Lunga 83rd min), R Chinyengetere, G Zulu (N Siwela 75th min), F Zikumbawire, D Kamunenga, W Mhango, G Ndlovu, A Katebe Unused subs: P Mhari, E Rusike, T Sibelo A Tavariswa

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